With tax season fast approaching we are forced to take a good hard look at the financial health of our business. One the challenges we all face is deciding where to invest our resources to help our businesses continue to grow and increase profits. Although there are many options, I'd like to share three ways you can begin to invest in your business today.

We're keeping up with this month's focus on sharing the love, and the focus today is personal. It's important to remember to make the time to take care of ourselves. So we've rounded up some of our favorite ways to practice self care.

I'm a major Valentine's Day enthusiast - and not just for the chocolate, champagne, and flowers! In the doldrums of winter, I like to see Valentine's Day as a reason to shake off the seasonal blues and celebrate the people in my life who mean so much to me. I also use this time of year to focus on taking care of my business and my self-care.

If you’re already sick and tired of New Year’s Resolutions and people making declarations on Facebook announcing their goals for 2018. Well...welcome to the club. Just be aware that this “sick and tired” feeling has nothing to do with your Facebook friends and everything to do with our own fears, lack of drive, peer comparison, and overall guilt.

Some of us may have an inner dialogue that goes a little something like this….”Wow, she’s going on an amazing trip to Italy! OMG her business is totally taking off. I wish I could do that!” Well … Yes, you can have anything you desire, too! There are infinite possibilities already lined up for you! We tend to have a loop of self doubt and limiting beliefs, a past story of who we think we are that hold us back from truly stepping into our infinite potential!

It's no secret that we sometimes get lost in the day to day grind when it comes to our work. There are emails to respond to, phone calls to make, and things we need to do for our business that we may not like to do... Here are some tips to bring back that lovin' feeling

When it all seems like your workload has gotten to be too much... press the Pause button. Chances are you've been working long hours and running on empty. Take a step back and take some time to regroup away from your workspace. Grab a coffee, or tea, and pick up that book you haven't finished reading. Lace up those sneakers and go for a run or get to that gym class you've been meaning to get to. Heck, call your bestie and make a lunch date! Take care of you.

Have you spent the whole workday trying to catch up on that inbox with notifications in the double digits, or checking every social media notification that makes your phone jolt, when you should be delivering a completed project to your client? The good news is that you have choices. Choose to set a time during your work day to answer emails and to respond to your social media notifications and stick to it. If you can't stand that you're spending your time taking care of these tasks when you could be doing what you love most about your job, let it go. Outsource these tasks to an assistant.

Then there's the feeling of having lost your way. Maybe you're not reaching your dream client, you feel your work is not your best, or your motivation becomes intermittent. It's time to visit your mission statement, and to reset your sights on your goals. Get inspired by your "why". A great tool to help keep you in your lane is a vision board. Read about it here!

Just one more week of January remains. Remember all of your big plans for 2018? That was just over three weeks ago and you hit the ground running... where are you now? It's ok. It's the perfect time to breathe life into your vision for 2018.

It isn't always easy to share your dreams. You don't know where to start, you're scared what people with think, or worst of all, you're worried you will fail. Then I remembered what I had forgotten the last time I chased a dream - Faith over failure.

What's the first thing your visitors see when they go to your website?

It's your home page.

And what's the first thing they read when they get to your site?

Not those dreamy descriptions of your product. Not those thoughtfully planned blog posts. Not even your well-written About Page. The first thing they read is the all-important home page copy - a piece of their website that many business owners sorely neglect.

In today's digital world, your brand needs to stand out, especially if you run a small business. Your dream clients are looking to find a connection with you - why should they hire you over the competition? Does your business seem like a good fit for what they're looking for? Is there a "real person" behind the brand?

Three reasons putting your best face forward on your website will make a positive impact on your business.

Our websites are our business storefronts. We spend a great deal of time showcasing our products and our services with great care. People “come in”, they like what they see and then they want to “meet” the person behind the brand. So, they head on over to your about me page. Are you making a great first impression with a professional headshot, or what I like to call a “Professional Business Portrait”? If not, learn why you need to put it at the top of your business to-do list.

Foster & Flourish is dedicated to supporting small creative businesses - and our 2017 holiday gift guide is a great way for YOU to support local makers (and snag gorgeous handmade gifts for your loved ones!).

When it comes to branding, authenticity is key - especially for small businesses. Your customers are buying your brand as much as they're buying your product. Your brand voice should reflect your personality, and above all, it should be real and authentic. This authenticity helps build trust and connection with your target customer.

My very first trip to Mexico was eight years ago and I fell in love! I was so excited to head back with my love for a well-deserved break from a fabulous 2017 wedding season. We decided we'd celebrate our 20 year wedding anniversary in Playa Del Carmen!